Administration of drugs to a patient

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an electronic pill ( 20 ) for the administration of at least one drug ( 3 ) to a patient, wherein the delivery profile of the drug is determined according to at least one individual parameter of the patient. The individual parameter may particularly relate to the genotype (GEN) or phenotype of the patient and for example comprise the distribution of proteins in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Optionally, the individual parameter may be adjusted based on measurements by the electronic pill or external devices during its passage through the gastrointestinal tract.

1 . A method for the administration of at least one drug ( 3 ) to a patient ( 1 ), comprising the delivery of the drug by an electronic pill ( 20 ) with a delivery profile that is determined according to at least one individual parameter of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the individual parameter comprises at least one of the following parameters:
 a part of the genotype of the patient ( 1 ), particularly in regard to cytochrome expression; 
 a part of the phenotype of the patient, particularly in regard to the expression of particular proteins in the gastrointestinal tract ( 2 ) of the patient; 
 the amount of a substance in the body of the patient that is related to the administered drug ( 3 ), particularly a substance in blood, urine or breath; 
 pharmacokinetic data and/or the response of the patient to the drug administration; 
 the profile of co-administered drugs. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the individual parameter relates to the expected response of the patient ( 1 ) to the drug administration.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the individual parameter relates to the distribution of particular biomolecules in the gastrointestinal tract ( 2 ) of the patient ( 1 ), particularly the distribution of members of the ATP-binding cassette family like P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance protein.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the delivery profile comprises the drug dispense rate versus time and/or location in the gastrointestinal tract ( 2 ).   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that pharmacokinetic data and/or a patient response are sampled during the administration of the drug ( 3 ), particularly by the electronic pill ( 20 ).   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the delivery profile is adjusted during and/or after the administration of the drug ( 3 ).   
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for enabling carrying out a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . Transmission of the computer program product according to  claim 8  over a local or wide area telecommunications network. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic pill ( 20 ) for the administration of at least one drug ( 3 ) to a patient ( 1 ), comprising a drug reservoir ( 26 ) and a controller ( 22 ,  23 , CON) for the controlled delivery of the drug from the drug reservoir with a delivery profile that is determined according to at least one individual parameter of the patient.